Monoplane.



J. A. GOODWIN.

MONOPLANE. APPLIOATIONIILHD DEC. 3, 19 10. I I 1,025,085. Patented Apr. 30, 19 2.

3 BHEETS-SHEET l.

Flmoeutoz J. A. GOODWIN.

MONOPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED BBQ. 3, 1910. 1,025,085. Patented Apr. 30, 191:2v

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

awuwtoz JOSEPH A. GOODNIN, OF MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

MONOPLANE.

PatentedApr. so, 1912.

" Application filed. December 3, 1910. Serial No. 595,405.

1 b all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. GoonwIN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Millville, in the county of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Monoplancs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heavier-than-air flying machines, and particularly to flying machines of the monoplane type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a monoplane machine having means for securing and maintaining complete antomatic lateral stability in any wind not eX- ceeding in velocity the speed of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatically balancing supporting surfaces having a normal bird-like flutter or vibratory action operating to increase the speed and stability of the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide 'a monoplane of maximum strength, and in which the balancing action may be regulated to suit the weight of the load and to make the machine as stiff or flexible as occasion may demand.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the body of a flying machine embodying my invention, showing in full lines the normal and in dotted lines one of the abnormal posi-- tions of the wings. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. t is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is a section on the line of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of my invention in an organized machine any suitable type of fuselage, wheel or skid base and propelling and steering means may be employed, the invention residing strictly in the construction of the body of the machine, i. 6., the supporting surfaces and means for controlling the same to balance the machine.

Referring to'the'drawings, l designates a central plane or supporting surface,.from the side edges of which rise upright vanes or surfaces 2, to the upper edges of which are connected the inner edges of the transverse or lateral supporting surfaces or wings 3, each of which portio s is composed as usual of a frame of wood or other suitable material having a fabric covering.

The plane or surface 1- -preferably curved from front to rear, parabolically or otherwise, for the dynamical reactions of the air thereon, and the lateral supporting surfaces or wings 3 are similarly curved from front to rear or in a direction trans-' vcrsely of their length to increase theii'lifting action. The rear portions of these wings are curved or inclined inwardly and rearwardly behind the rear longitudinal frame bars thereof to provide resilient tail extensions 4, whichprovide for the escape of any excess quantity of air from beneath the wings and at the same time impart to the .wings the general shape of a birds wings, whereby the sustaining effect of the wings is promoted.- The upright surfaces 2 may extend vertically, but preferably diverge of incline upwardly and outwardly between their bottom and top edges, so as to dispose them at a dihedralangle for a bearing action on the air, by which said surfaces are caused to have a balancing effeet in a well-known way when the machine tilts in either direction. Such surfaces also operate in the nature ofparallel kcels to prevent lateral displacement or skidding of the machine from its course of travel.

The wings or transverse supporting surfaces are hinged or pivoted at their inner edges, as indicated at 5, to the upper edges of the surfaces 3, to render said wings flexible, that is, to adapt said wings to swing in a vertical plane. As shown, said wings normally inclineupwardly and outwardly at.

an angle, preferably a minimum dihedral working angle, and are movable upwardly from such position under excess air pressure to any dihedral angle position between such minimum dihedral angle and the maxi: mum angle at which the wings may lie without impairing their sustaining and stabilizing action.

Fixed to the frame bars of the surface 1 or surfaces 2 and extending upwardly in the space. between the latter to a point above. the level of the wings is an inverted V- shaped brace frame 6,from the vertex of which guy wires 7 extend to the. ends of the wings 3 and limit the downward movement ofsaid wings to maintain the same in their normal position when the machine is at rest or not in. flight. Guy wires 8 also lead from the vertexof said brace frame to brace bars or beams 9 extending transversely above the surface 1 and connecting and reinforcing the upper edges of the surfaces 2, by whici. construction, in connection with front and rear sets of crossed stays 10, a very trong and rigid body structure is provided.

The upward motion of the wings 3 is limited or restricted by restraining means comprising cords or wires 11 and 12 provided at their outer ends with branches 11 and 12 leading to the respective wings, the inner ends of said cords extending oeneath the surface 1 over suitable guide pulleys 13, and thence upwardly through an opcningit in said surface, where they are connected with the forward end of a restraining spring 15 or its equivalent. The r ar end of the spring is connected with a cord or wire 16 extending downwardly at the rear of the surface 1 over a guide pulley 17 and thence forwardly beneath said surface, said cord or wire being connected with the lower arm of a movable holding and tension regulating lever 18, said lever extending upwardly through an opening in the surface 2 and having its operating arm 19 disposed above said surface and provided with a pawl 20 to engage a rack :21, whereby the lever may be locked in any of its adjusted positions. A connection 22, including a contractile spring 23, connects the operating arm of the lever with a portion of the surface '2 in rear thereof, said connection acting in opposition to the pullol the restraining device when the lever is unlocked to prevent too forcible motion of the lever, as well as to decrease the amount of power required to adjust the lever for tensioning said restraining device.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the restraining device operates to yieldingly hold the flexible wings from upward motion and in normal mini mum dihedral position, which holding action may be iuc reased or diminished by tensioning or relaxing said restraining device and consequently rendering the wings stifi'er or more flexible in action as occasion may require, according to the. weight of the load and the velocity of the wind currents.

' will, of'course, be understood that under respondingposition. llnder all ordinary 6O pressure eacl1 wing is, adapted to yield upwardly, in which operation it espands the restraining spring and relaxes the connection between the same and the opposite wing, permitting the latter to automatically and simultaneously swing upward to a corconditions, even when the wind is light, it

- will, therefore, be apparent that the, wings ance of the spring of the restraining device,

which in its expansion will relax the connection leading to the opposite wing, permitting the latter to 1nstantly recedeupwardly to a position corresponding to that of the' first-named wing. By this mode of operation the gust of air will be caused to spend its force on the wing against which it strikes, thus relieving the body of the machine, from the air pressure, whereby the machine will be prevented from bodily tilting, while at the same time the wings will simply change their sustaining position and thereby maintain the equilibrium of the machine. If the cross current of air should be strong enough to shift the wingand also transmit a portion of its pressure to the body of the machine as a whole, thus causing the machine to tilt, the surfaces 2 will cooperate with the wings to restorethe machine to its normal balanced position.

In practice, the surface 1 may form a support for the pilots seat 24 and the driving motor (not shown), the former being arranged at the front and the latter at the rear of said surface or in any suitable positions. As a result, the machine will have an extremely low center of gravity .as re gards. the relation of the load weight to the supporting wings, and by making the surface 2 a lifting surface any tendency of the load weight to disturb the. lateral balance through a pendulum action will be overcome.

It will be obvious that the construction of the restraining means may be varied within the spirit, and scope of the invention, and that in the balancing action of the wings the necessity of'the wings moving in reverse directions forbalancing control is avoided, since the character of the connection is such that the wings simply change their angle of incidence to corresponding degrees any movement of one wing being 1nstantly nnparted to and duplicated by the other wing,

rendering it impossible for the wings to Shift in such manner as to destroy the balance of themachine. A birdslike type of machine is accordingly produced which may'bebuilt'as strongly as a biplane machine and will automatically preserve its balance in any .wmd not exceeding in velocity the speed ofhe machine, rendering it only necessary for; the operator to prescrveithc;

longitudinal stability.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 2- i 1. A monoplane flying machine embodying a central supporting surface, dihedralangled adjustable laterally "extending supporting surfaces arranged at an elevation above and beyond'the lateral extremities of said central supporting surface, dihedralangled upright vanes connecting the lateral extremities of said central supporting surface with the inner extremities of said lat eral supporting surfaces, and controlling means for permitting said laterally extending supporting surfaces to move to different dihedral positions under air pressure, said means operating upon the upward movement of one of saidlaterally extending supporting surfaces under air pressure to per-' mit the other laterally extending supporting surface to automatically move upward to a corresponding dihedral position.

2. A monoplane flying machine embodying a central supporting surface, upright vanes extending from the lateral extremities of said surface, vertically adjustable laterally extending supporting surfaces projecting from the upper extremities of the vanes, andcontrolling means for permitting said laterally extending supporting surfaces to move to different dihedral positions under air pressure, said means operating upon the upward movement of one of said laterally extending supporting surfaces under air pressure to permit the other laterally extending supporting surface to antomatically move upward to a corresponding dihedral position.

3. A flying machine embodying a central supporting surface, upright surfaces rising from said central supporting surfaces, vertically adjustable wings extending from said upright surfaces, and means for securing movement of both wings to correspondingly inclined positions under theexcess pressure of'air upon either wing.

4. A flying machine embodying a central supporting surface, upright surfaces rising from the central supporting surface, wings extending from said upright surfaces, and

means for securing movement of both wings to correspoi'ldingly inclined positions under the excess pressure of air upon either win 5. A flying machine embodying a central supporting surface, dihedrally inclined upright surfaces rising from the central supporting surface, dihedrally inclined wings extending from said upright surfaces, and means for securing movement of both wings to correspondingly inclined positions under the excess pressure of air upon either win 6. A flying machine embodying wings vertically yieldablc to different dihedral positions, and means for securing automatic adjustments of said wings in the same diair rection and to corresponding dihedral ;p0 sitions upon the movement of either Wing under air pressure.

T. A flying machine embodying wings pivoted for automatic upward yielding movement under air pressure fromanormal position, a restraining device, and connections between. the wings and restraining device,whereby when one wing moves upwardly under airpressure the connection between the restraining device and other wing will be relaxed to permitithe latternamed wing to have a correspondingup- -'ard automatic movement under air pres- S. A flying machine embodying wings ,pivoted to move in a vertical plane, and

means for pcrn'iitting said wings to have yielding movement, said means being'operative upon the automatic movement ofone wing under air pressure in one direction to permit corresponding automatic motion of the other wing in the same direction.

9. i\ Flying machine embodying wings pivoted to move automatically ina vertical plane under air pressure, an expansi'ble restraining device, and connections between said restraining device and the \vings;whcre= by when one wing moves upwardly under pressure and expands the restraining device the connection with the other wing will be relaxed to permit of a corresponding movement of such wing under air pres sure. 7

l0.' A flying machine embodying wings pivoted for Vertical IlIOYQII'lOllf, a restraining-device adapted to permit corresponding movements of the wings when either wing is forced upward under air pressure, and means for regulating the resistance of said restrainingdevice.

11. A fl ing machine embodying wings pivoted for movement in a vertical plane, an cxpansible and cont-ractiblc restraining device, connections between said restraining device and the wings, whereby upon the upward movement of one wing under air prcs surethe other wing will. be permitted to have correspoinling movement, and means for tensioning said restraining de'vi'pc.

l2. flying machine embodying wings. ')ivoted for vertical movement, an expansible and coi'itractible tensioning device,

connections between said tensioning 'devicc and the wings, whereby upon the ipward n'iovemcnt of one wing under tllt' 1)t't,i5l'tl't the other wing will be permitted to have ran-responding n'iovcment, a lever for ten sioning said restraining device, and means for locking said lever in adjusted position.

13. A flying machine embodying a central supporting surface, upright surfaces rising from the central supporting surface, wings pivoted for vertical movement to said upright surfaces, and a restraining de-' vice, and connections between said restraining' device and the Wings, whereby upon the upward movement; of either wing under air pressure the other wing will be permitted to have corresponding movement. 1

14-, A flying machine embodying a central supporting surface, upright surfaces rising from said central supporting surface, wings extending from said upright surfaces and pivoted for vertical movement thereto, a restraining device, connections between the rest mining device and the wings, whereby upon the upward movement ot one wing the other \v'np; will be permitted to have corresponding movement, and means for tensioniug; said restrainin device.

15. A. flying machine embodying wine's vertically adjustable to different positions, and controlling means operating tonormally resist upward movement of said wings, said means being operative to permit either wing to have upward movement under air pressure thereon, and to permit the other wing to move automatically upward to'a corresponding degree.

16. A flying machine embodying vertically movable wings, each wing being automatically m0 'able upv 'ardly under air pressure, and means operating upon the upward movement of either wing to permit the other wing to move upward to a corresponding degree.

L 17. A flying machine embodying vertirally movable wings, each wing being auto; matically movable tuiwardly under air pressure, restraining and controlling means 0p crating to permit up 'ard movement of either wingunder air pressure and to permit corresponding upward movement of the other wing, and means for regulating the re straining action of said restraining and controlling means.

18. A flying machine embodying vertically movable wings, 'a restraining device for maintaining the wings at a correspond ing normal position, said restrainingdevice being operative to permit either wing to move upward automatically under air pres sure and to permit cmrespondi11gautomatic upward movement of the other wing under air pressure, and manually operable means for synchrtmously regulating the resistance of the restraining device the movement of each wing:

in testimony whereof l atlix my signature in presence out two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. GOODWIN. \Vi t nesscs a I). R. Goonwix, (bio. V. Pirllimrs. 

